--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The innovator has for enemies all who…" description: "\"The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under the old, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/niccolo-machiavelli-368_conservatism_the-innovator-has-for-enemies-all-who-ha_2282157.jpg" --- # The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under… ![“The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under the old, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/niccolo-machiavelli-368_conservatism_the-innovator-has-for-enemies-all-who-ha_2282157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/niccolo-machiavelli-368_conservatism_the-innovator-has-for-enemies-all-who-ha_2282157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/niccolo-machiavelli-368_conservatism_the-innovator-has-for-enemies-all-who-ha_2282157.jpg) > “The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under the old, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Old successes resist change; new ideas face lukewarm support from those uncertain about future benefits. **In simple terms:** Change meets resistance from both entrenched and hesitant people. Key Takeaway Anticipate opposition when innovating. Themes resistance change innovation Mood cautious strategic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - product launch - organizational restructuring - policy reform - technological adoption Key Concepts power dynamics status quo risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - How can you win over skeptics of the old guard? - What incentives encourage lukewarm defenders to embrace the new? A Different Perspective Even supporters may sabotage progress if they fear loss of relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatism/) [Defenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenders/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Incredulity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredulity/) [Innovator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovator/) [Innovators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovators/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-the-innovator-has-for-enemies-all-those-who-have-done-well/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-reformer-has-enemies-in-all-who-profit-by-the-old-order-and-only/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-ought-to-be-remembered-that-there-is-nothing-more-difficult-to/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [New ideas are not only the enemies of old ones; they also appear often in an extremely unacceptable form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/new-ideas-are-not-only-the-enemies-of-old-ones-they-also-appear-often/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“If you have to fight old enemies, you should do it with your own old soldiers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-to-fight-old-enemies-you-should-do-it-with-your-own-old/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-incredulity-of-mankind-who-do-not-truly-believe-in-anything-new/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The human understanding is a revelation from its maker, which can never be disputed or doubted. 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another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; 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